Love Hits Hard

Chapter 17- Family Learnings

We pull into a parking lot not that far from the park and slowly make our way out of the car.

I end up holding my bag and Jackson as Adam pushes his stroller beside me. We walk for a bit until we enter the pathway that circles the lake around the park.

We follow the path until it leads us to a playground with many little kids running around and we take a seat an empty picnic bench.

I place Jackson on my lap as Adam takes a seat next to me, playing with Jackson a bit.

"Thank you," I say softly as I look off at the lake and hundreds of trees only a few feet away from me.

The crisp air of February causes for the water to not be as enjoyable as usual but the sight is all that I need.

"Athena?" Adam says in an attempt to get my attention.

"Mhmm?" I respond, somehow unable to pull myself away from the view.

"Athena, can you look at me?" He asks and gently places his hand on my arm.

"What's wrong?" I ask as I slowly pull my eyes away and look up to see Adam staring at me.

"Nothing's wrong per say, I just want to talk to you," he says as he intertwines his fingers with mine.

"About?"

"Stuff...like, what do you want to do after high school?"

"I can't really afford college and there's no way that I can get a scholarship to anywhere so I guess find a job somewhere and focus on being a mom for a bit. The job I have now is fine, I just won't be able to support everyone with it," I say as I stand up and place Jackson in his stroller and give him a few snacks on his tray.

"What do you mean support everyone?" He asks as he opens his arms and I sit between his legs, Adam wrapping his arms around me.

"Me, Ethan, Adelaide, Jackson, possible new baby," I say with a small laugh at the end.

"I know who you meant but why do you have to support them all?"

"Someone has to do it," I say with a brief shrug and smile at the babbling baby sitting next to me.

"You don't think I will help you out?" He asks and I turn to face him.

"I don't expect you to. Jackson is my main priority right behind my siblings. It wasn't your fault that we lost our parents."

"It wasn't your fault either," he says as he pulls me closer to him.

"You have your own problems to worry about like your job, your home, Jasmine," I say, trailing off at the mention of his girlfriends name. "Oh my god, Jasmine! You still have a girlfriend!"

"Athena, calm down."

"What do you mean calm down? I'm a mistress! What if I'm pregnant? I slept with you last night, you cheated on her. On top of that you guys had a fight and what? Was I your rebound?" I say as I stand up and walk over to the whining baby.

"Athena, you are not a rebound."

"Then what am I?" I ask as I pick up Jackson and begin to walk back and forth.

"I don't know, but I love you," Adam says as he stand up and walks over to us.

"So what, you don't love Jasmine?" I ask as I distance myself from Adam.

"I do but that's the problem, we had an argument over you and Jackson. Sure, she loves kids but she didn't want for Jackson coming over to become a thing," he says and moves closer.

"I see," I say sitting down on a piece of playground equipment.

"She wanted to make me choose between her and you," Adam states as he sits down next to me.

"Oh, then what happened?" I softly ask as I rock Jackson gently in my arms.

"I told her that when I came down to it, Jackson was my own blood and that meant more to me than a relationship that may or may not work out," he says as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to him.

"So what is your relationship status?" I ask as I look up at his eyes.

"We're on a break that might not ever come to an end. She told me to come find her once I loved her more than my 'baby mama' to which to told her to get the hell out of my house."

"Ohhh, So that's why she was so pissed," I say and rest my head on his shoulders.

"Pretty much," he says and kisses my forehead.

"Adam, do you love her?"

"I do, but not more than I love you and my own son."

"Adam, I have to tell you something," I say as I turn my body to face his.

"Yes Athena?"

"It's nothing serious but I just thought that you should know that I'm kind of seeing someone right now," I say and I see his body tense up a bit.

"Kind of?"

"Well yeah, I mean, we only went on one date but in that one date we kind of went to his house in a forest and had unprotected sex so I just thought that I would put that out there."

"Wow, I don't know what to say."

"I know."

"Do you have feeling for him?" He asks and looks me straight in my eyes.

"I honestly don't know, he really helped me in Friday but I don't know how I feel," I say and look down and the half-asleep baby in my arms.

"Well, I have to approve of him first," Adam says with a smile and I gently hit him on my arm.

"Of course."

***

Hey guys, I don't know if anyone reads this but I hope you're enjoying. I might start a new book soon but idk.

<3